The Library Book

On April 29, 1986, a small fire ignited in the central branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Fed by ample fuel—books—and funneled through the cramped stacks, the blaze soon morphed into a violent conflagration that hundreds of firefighters battled for seven hours to contain. The fire destroyed 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more, making it "the greatest loss to any public library in the history of the United States." In this engrossing account, bestselling writer Susan Orlean weaves together the story of the fire—a suspected arson—with ruminations on her own love of libraries and the critical role these institutions have played throughout human history...and continue to play today. A true-crime drama, biblio-history, and poignant memoir all rolled into one, The Library Book will resonate long after the final page is read. (KG)